Candy cigarettes were first introduced in the early 20th century They were made out of chalky sugar, bubblegum or chocolate, and wrapped in paper to resemble real cigarettes. They have long been controversial because many critics believe the candy leads children to become smokers later in life. Because of this, the selling of candy cigarettes has been banned in several countries such as Finland, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.The state of North Dakota enacted a ban on candy cigarettes from 1953 until 1967.

Candy cigarettes continue to be manufactured and consumed in many parts of the world. However, many manufacturers now describe their products as candy sticks, bubble gum, or candy.